Wayne County, Mississippi Demographics 2026

Population Overview

Wayne County is located in Mississippi with a total population of 19,699. It is the 46th most populous county out of 82 in Mississippi.

Age Demographics

The median age in Wayne County is 39.1 years. This is 2% higher than the state median of 38.4 years.

Economy, Income & Housing

The median household income in Wayne County is $36,791. This is 33% lower than the state median of $54,915. Compared to the national median of $78,538, household income here is 53% lower. The poverty rate stands at 22.9%. This is 20% higher than the state poverty rate of 19.1%. With more than one in five residents living below the poverty line, economic hardship is a significant challenge for the community. The unemployment rate is 7.9%. This is 31% higher than the state rate of 6.0%. The median home value is $88,000. Housing costs are 45% lower than the state median of $161,400. With a home-value-to-income ratio of just 2.4x, Wayne County is one of the most affordable housing markets in the area. 88.3% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 27% higher than the state average of 69.5%.

Race & Ethnicity

The largest racial or ethnic group in Wayne County is White (non-Hispanic), making up 56.7% of the population. Black or African American residents account for 37.1%. The Asian population (0.1%) is well below the state average of 1.0%.

Education

16.7% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 31% lower than the state rate of 24.2%. Nationally, 35.0% of adults hold at least a bachelor's degree. The high school graduation rate (or equivalent) is 84.0%.